City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

Mount Sterling, KY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Mount Sterling - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

7,549
Residents
$50,843
Median income
$178,200
Median home
$905
Median rent (state)

Mount Sterling - the verdict

Nationally, Mount Sterling sits in the 21st percentile for household income and the 48th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

21st
percentile, household income
36th
percentile, home value
5th
percentile, median rent
48th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Mount Sterling, KY

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 7,549 residents in Mount Sterling, a small town within Kentucky. Mount Sterling households earn a median of $50,843 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.4%. Home values in Mount Sterling run a median of $178,200, and the median resident age is 39.1 years. About 22.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 16 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 59% from five years earlier. Mount Sterling reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1412.5 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Kentucky run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Kentucky scores 90.2 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $905 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Kentucky run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 34.3 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

7,549 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$50,843 /yr

Poverty 15.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does Mount Sterling compare to other US cities?

Where Mount Sterling sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 21% higher than other cities
Home value 36% pricier than other cities
Median rent 5% pricier than other cities
Safety 48% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Kentucky alone, Mount Sterling ranks #136 of 181 Kentucky cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Mount Sterling against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Kentucky only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Kentucky-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent sits close to the middle of Kentucky's city distribution

Among the 520 Kentucky cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Mount Sterling ranks #331 - the 36th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Mount Sterling only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#282 of 485
42nd percentile in Kentucky
Median Gross Rent
#331 of 520
36th percentile in Kentucky
Median Home Value
#178 of 484
63rd percentile in Kentucky
Poverty Rate
#206 of 519
60th percentile in Kentucky
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#204 of 520
61st percentile in Kentucky

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Kentucky only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

21stIncome percentile
48thSafety percentile

21st percentile nationally for median household income · 48th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Mount Sterling's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Mount Sterling's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 50 Avg. percentile National median
Mount Sterling's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Mount Sterling's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$178,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 64% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Mount Sterling $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Mount Sterling, KY Mount Sterling, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Mount Sterling, KY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Mount Sterling, KY median $50,843/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Mount Sterling, KY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Mount Sterling, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
7,549
Median Income
$50,843
Median Home Value
$178,200
Median Age
39.1
Poverty Rate
15.4%
Labor force participation
55.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1412.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
211.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1201.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
8
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
7,520 residents7,540 residents7,560 residents7,580 residents7,600 residents7,620 residents 202020212022202320242025 7,542 residents 7,586 residents ▲ +0.6%
Mount Sterling's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
16
housing units authorized
Single-Family
16
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 39
2020 8
2021 7
2022 11
2023 6
2024 16

Permit volume decreased 59% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.9%
Carpool
6.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
6.7%

Based on 3,373 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Kentucky - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kentucky state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Kentucky state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Mount Sterling sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$905/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
34.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Pikeville
7,560 people
London
7,576 people
Union
7,494 people
Villa Hills
7,378 people
Flatwoods
7,281 people
Russellville
7,244 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Mount Sterling's 7,549 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fort Scott, KS
7,551 people
Laurel Hill, VA
7,551 people
Northridge, OH
7,546 people
Blandon, PA
7,546 people
Gresham Park, GA
7,544 people
Independence, OH
7,543 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Mount Sterling's $50,843 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lee Acres, NM
$50,846 median income
Parsons, KS
$50,838 median income
Carthage, MO
$50,849 median income
Clinton, MO
$50,852 median income
Kake, AK
$50,833 median income
Selawik, AK
$50,833 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Mount Sterling, KY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Mount Sterling, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.6% White 93.3% Black or African American 4.8% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Mount Sterling compares to nearby Kentucky cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Mount Sterling (this city) 7,549 $50,843
Pikeville 7,560 $39,216
London 7,576 $45,850
Union 7,494 $139,013
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Mount Sterling, KY?

What is the population of Mount Sterling, KY? +

7,549 people live in Mount Sterling, KY according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Mount Sterling, KY? +

Median annual household income in Mount Sterling runs $50,843, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Mount Sterling? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Mount Sterling; the closest available measure is the Kentucky state average, a cost of living index of 90.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kentucky vary by metro area.

Is Mount Sterling, KY safe? +

Mount Sterling has a total crime rate of 1412.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Mount Sterling, KY? +

A typical home in Mount Sterling is worth $178,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.